It’s Time To Say Goodbye to the North Face Fleece

Put down the North Face. Seriously.

That overly priced piece of fleece has been cramping styles of college chicks nationwide for way too long. Not only is it boring and blah (and yes getting it in bumble-bee yellow still makes it blah) – but its making you that girl. You know who I’m talking about: The one who walks around campus in her big sunglasses, tight stretch pants, boots and… NORTH FACE FLEECE.

I’m not saying it’s horrible to be one of those girls – in fact I think these girls get a bad rap for being bitchy and spoiled when that isn’t the case (note: I was one of them). What I am saying is that if you’re going to spend the money on a piece of outerwear there are so many, MANY cuter, warmer, more original, not fleecy things to buy!

Trust me, I understand the “I’m hungover and want to wear sweats to class” line of thinking, I really do. But at least fool the outside world that you care…even a little… and switch up your NFF for an actual jacket or coat. This fall there are just so many cute styles that it’s simply a waste to not wear one of them!

Here are some options to consider when trading in your beloved North Face Fleece:

The Hooded Bomber Jacket

You can wear this to class or to the bars. Pair it with jeans, leggings, even sweats and it instantly screams “I’m super hot,” and, “Don’t mess with me, yo.”

The Vintage Swing Coat

This Yellow is a must-have color, and it adds color to even the palest, most hungover faces, convincing any professor that you are 100% mentally there.

The Best Bar Jacket

For $29.80 it’s A-OKAY if you lose it, spill on it, get sick on it, forget about it, etc.

When it comes to bar jackets you have to plan ahead; while you won’t want to freeze and NOT wear a coat (a mistake made by freshies nationwide), you also don’t want to wear your favorite Theory jacket only to have it be traded up by some other gal who wore her Forever 21 jacket, saw yours shoved in a corner and grabbed it at the end of the night “by mistake.”

The “I’m going to be presentable” Jacket

This jacket- which comes in a bunch of colors – is great for class OR for meeting your boyfriends great Aunt Jane in. It’s tailored but still youthful and just. so. cute.

The Comfortable Alternative

If you must be comfortable at least be original.

The Military Coat

I love it. I love it. I love it. Enough said.

Laura says:
Sat, 27th Sep 20083:11 pm

I’m so sick of the black NFF, white scarf tucked in, huge sunglasses & uggs outfit. During the winter you can see it all over my campus. Girls think they look cute but they literally all end up looking like clones of each other. It basically tells the world that they have no originality and can’t think for themselves.

Lily says:
Sat, 27th Sep 20083:29 pm

Eh. If it’s cold but not cold enough to don my winter jacket, I’m gonna wear my Northface. To me, it’s just a comfy jacket that I take off when I get inside. Plus, I don’t pair it with the rest of those items of clothing – yuck.

The bomber jacket, military coat, and the presentable coat are way hot though.

Jacks says:
Sat, 27th Sep 20084:24 pm

Those jackets are all really cute, but some of them don’t look particularly warm. North Faces aren’t fashionable, but they are really, really, warm.

Coco - University of Alabama says:
Sat, 27th Sep 20085:13 pm

I love my black North Face fleece for those really chilly days and those days I don’t feel like looking cute. It’s a practical jacket, not meant for fashion. However, I do like to don my black pea coat for more sophisticated outfits, or my houndstooth winter coat for colder fashionable days, and for a lighter jacket a shorter, cream double button jacket that goes with everything. I think it’s okay to wear your North Face, just not with every outfit you own.

Sam says:
Sat, 27th Sep 20087:46 pm

I love love love the “I’m going to be presentable jacket” It looks expensive though.

Valerie says:
Sat, 27th Sep 20089:19 pm

These are all really cute suggestions, but none of them are ’sporty’ which, I think, some gals in North Face like. I really like luluemon hoodies. They are super expensive, but super cute too.

ela says:
Sun, 28th Sep 20085:04 am

you missed the fact that northface is a SPORT JACKET. i don’t see me RUNNING in any of those options. those JAPy girls ruined a sport coat long before now, back in the late 90s but the main purpose of this kind of jacket remains- ATHLETICS.

ela says:
Sun, 28th Sep 20085:05 am

ps: northface never advertises their jacket for ‘that girl’ and even with the popularity they had gained they could have but they didn’t. they stuck to their own target market and for that i will always wear them! they didn’t exploit the fashionless bitches yay.

husky says:
Sun, 28th Sep 200810:30 pm

cone on jill…. dont lie to everyone… you are spoiled and bitchy…

husky says:
Sun, 28th Sep 200810:32 pm

come on jill…. don’t lie to everyone… you are spoiled and bitchy… and im sure your brother has a hundred pictures of you with that exact look going!!!!

Lauren, University of Michigan says:
Mon, 29th Sep 20089:16 am

The north face fleece is NOT warm for winter. You need to pair that wtih a shell in order to stay warm. We are kidding ourselves trying to defend buying a $180 FLEECE.

Jill says:
Mon, 29th Sep 20081:42 pm

I’m not saying North Face Fleeces should NEVER be worn- I agree they have their place– when running, going to football games etc. I’m just saying this season has SO many cute, adorable and affordable coats out there- why not be original and presentable?

and to Husky- learn how to use a computer- you posted that comment twice.

oh and bitchy I am not.

Nikki says:
Mon, 29th Sep 20082:37 pm

As someone originally from Central NY who attended college in Albany then moved to South Florida…I ‘gotta say, I find any excuse possible to still wear my Northface…70 degrees? AC cranked in the office? Dealing with a nasty case of hangover chills? Looks like I need to pull out the Northface!

I refer to it as my security blanket, there’s just somethnig so COMFORTING about it…sure it’s not the most fashionalbe thing, but I don’t wear it for fashion sense…and it definitely served its purpose for keeping me warm ENOUGH when walking around campus is Albany without having to lug a big winter jacket around…I know we all looked like clones, but that never bothered me.

That being said, I LOVE the military jacket you have pictured…and I’d be just as pressed to find any escuse to wear that here in South Florida too!

PS – I would never be caught dead in Uggs or stretch pants…just not my thing.

husky says:
Thu, 2nd Oct 20087:04 pm

jill- i know how to post, i just wanted to add emphasis. i heard you wore uggs, stretch pants and a north face to cholntfest 2008.

Oh, and fine, you arent bitchy… today!

Hannah says:
Tue, 21st Oct 20087:37 pm

I go to school in the mountains so I feel that Uggs and North Faces/fleeces are acceptable and definitely needed when the temp dips real low, however they are not super fashionable. I rocked North Face, Mountain Hardware, and Patagonia in middle and high school (I still have them too) and usually just wear them when I’m skiing, relaxing with friends, or at the library. However when I’m around campus at class, or out at night, I like to wear something cuter. I’m a bit of a coat fiend, probably have more than you can count on two hands, but can never have too many coats in the mountains. You left out one that is classic and chic! Pea coats are great. They dress up a simple jeans and tee combo and go with dressy pants too. I have two- one from J.Crew for everyday and a Marc Jacobs one for special days. For more casual and COLD days (and a great and warmer alternative to fleece) I have a Burberry down puffy jacket. I wear it with yoga pants or jeans. Comfy and a more fashionable alternative to a NFace.

Richard says:
Mon, 17th Nov 200810:13 am

I am the owner of Southern Waters Outfitters in coastal Alabama. I can tell you for a fact that the North Face Denali jacket is far from dead. It is still way popular @ U.A. and @ Auburn. not to mention Ole Miss, Miss State, Troy etc…. One thing we have noticed, the buyer or should I say wearer is getting younger and younger. We sell tons of them to 1st and 2nd grade girls all the way up to high school seniors, and boys too but not nearly as many. Another fact I can pass on is that Florida schools, namely FSU and Florida are not on the TNF bandwagon. We have opened stores in Destin as well as Panama City Beach hoping the students from these schools would stock up on TNF with their parents (credit card) during back to school. We were way wrong, this brand is NOT on their fashion radar. That goes for the local high schools as well. I think wearing these jackets on cold windy days on campus makes sense. Please save them for this and football games though because they are far from being sexy apparel that you would wear to parties or going out. Anyway if your a fan of The North Face (they are extremely warm and comfy) check out our sale of 20% off on these jackets going on right now. Find them at http://www.southern-waters.com

sally says:
Thu, 27th Nov 20089:38 pm

i just hate the pink north face.AND SOOOOOOOOOO ENSPNCOVE!!!!!~SALLY MCFEE~

Mazuba says:
Tue, 2nd Dec 20089:51 pm

I’m loving your options.I have never ever liked North Face coats,but was actually considering buying one ,just for the sake of feeling warmer..Now that I saw your post ,i have rethought that..thanks

Morton says:
Wed, 31st Dec 20087:44 am

Northface is so worn out now it’s ridiculous. I come from Norway (where North Face gear is a must) And WAY more than a damn fleece jacket. I now live in Atlanta Ga and I must say Im tired of seeing these clones day in and day out. Whether its June or January, all you see is NF fleece. Guys more so than girls, with those ridiculous looking costa del mar sunglasses around the neck and of course mocassins. Will someone please tell me where the f*ck this ’style’ came from? It looks like a southern university thing more than anything.

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19 Comments		Posted in Style
		Tags: bar coat, bar jacket, boots, class, coats, Fall, fashion, forever 21, hungover, jacket, jackets, military, nordstrom, north face, north face fleece, professors, stretch pants, Style, sweats, swing coat, theory, urban outfitters, vintage